Council’s Street and Reserve Tree Policy 2004 is the main document used by the Parks department in the administration and management of the City’s trees. The policy and associated documents can be accessed below:

Hume City Council has developed an annual Electric Line Clearance Management Plan. In doing so, Council is working toward compliance with the Electricity Safety (Electric Line Clearance) Regulations 2015.

Council plants approximately 5,000 street and park trees between May and September each year. Appropriate species are selected, determined by multiple factors such as the species planted in the rest of the street and species suitability to the site.

Council is responsible for the planting and maintenance of trees on Council nature strips throughout their entire life cycle and doesn’t allow residents to plant trees on Council land.

If you would like to request a tree to be planted, you can contact Council on 9205 2200.

Council has a proactive inspection program, where each street tree is inspected every 4 years by a qualified arborist. If street trees are underneath powerlines, they are assessed by a qualified arborist every 12 months. These inspections record the health and structure of the tree and identifies if any pruning or removal works are required.

Council’s arborists also conduct reactive tree inspections within these cycles. If you would like to request a tree inspection of one of Council’s trees, you can contact Council on 9205 2200. Please note that Council does not remove nature strip trees unless they are structurally unsound, dead or in decline.

If a street tree is creating leaf or bark litter, you may be eligible for Council’s Home Care and Maintenance Service team's home maintenance program, which provides services such as gutter cleaning. You can check for eligibility for these services by contacting Council on 9205 2200.

Sometimes, trees need to be protected from our native fauna, for example the leaves of mature red gum trees can be eaten by possums, and if the possums are not prevented from accessing the canopy, the tree may die.

Only heavily grazed trees have possum guards installed on the trunks, allowing possums to graze other trees in the surrounding open space.

Myrtle Rust Fungus Detected in Victoria

The fungus Uredo rangelii (myrtle rust), poses a threat to Victoria's nursery, forestry and beekeeping industries, as well as to public parks and gardens and native forests. It can potentially attack all species of the Myrtaceae plant family.

Early identification of this rust is vital for effective management and Agriculture Victoria should be notified immediately of all plants suspected of being infected with myrtle rust.

Properly constructed and maintained pipes are designed to withstand normal tree root and traffic loadings. Tree roots can enter a pipe in poor condition, through cracks in the pipe or joins. Once tree roots enter, then blockages can occur as the pipe is an excellent growing environment or the roots. The condition of the pipe can be determined by a licenced plumber, who can remove the roots and repair the pipe to prevent the roots from re-entering.

Council should be advised if roots of the Council tree are to be damaged or removed, other than those within the pipe. You will also need to apply for a ‘Consent to work within a Hume City council Road Reserve' permit. This can be obtained via the following link. A Council arborist can assess and determine the best course of action in relation to root pruning if required.

It is the land owners responsibility to maintain the stormwater pipe from the kerb and channel adjacent to the road back to the connection within the land owners property. Therefore, any blockages or repairs necessary are the land owners responsibility. Please see the illustration outlining the Stormwater Drainage Maintenance Responsibilities.